Topic: How To Invest

Pat: Could you give me your recommendation on Ag Growth International? Thank you.

Article Excerpt

Ag Growth International Inc., $36.46, symbol AFN on Toronto (Shares outstanding: 12.6 million; Market cap: $471.6 million; www.aggrowth.com), is a leading maker of portable and stationary grain-handling, storage and conditioning equipment. The company is based in Winnipeg. Ag Growth sells its products through dealers and distributors in 48 states and nine provinces, as well as overseas, including Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan. Ag Growth gets about 53% of its sales from the U.S., followed by Canada (24%) and international markets (23%). The company started out as an income trust. It first sold units to the public at $10 each and began trading on Toronto in May 2004. In June 2009, it converted to a corporation and changed its name from Ag Growth Income Fund to Ag Growth International. Ag Growth’s subsidiaries include Batco (which makes crop conveyor belts), Wheatheart Manufacturing (grain-handling equipment), Westfield Industries (portable augers to transfer grain), the Edwards Group (aeration and grain-drying equipment), Twister (grain bins) and Mepu…